FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J S Afr Vet Assoc / Besnoitiosis in a horse.
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association1993; 64(2); 92-95;

Besnoitiosis in a horse.

Abstract: Besnoitiosis was confirmed in a pony which presented with inspiratory dyspnoea, scleroderma and ventral oedema. Numerous cysts were visible in the sclerae. Histological examination of the skin confirmed the presence of numerous cysts. The parasite could not be transmitted by subcutaneous injection of homogenised skin from the infected horse to rabbits and a horse. Ultrastructural morphology of the crescent-shaped bradyzoites was not compatable with Besnoitia besnoiti or B. jellisoni and it is proposed that the infection was caused by B. bennetti.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1993-06-01 PubMed ID: 8410950
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Case Reports
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article deals with a case study of a pony diagnosed with Besnoitiosis, a rare parasitic infection. The study further proposes that the infection was caused by a specific parasite; B. bennetti.

Case Background

  • The article begins by mentioning the case of a pony presented with symptoms of inspiratory dyspnoea (difficulty breathing), scleroderma (hardening of the skin), and ventral oedema (unusual accumulation of fluid beneath the belly skin).
  • Many cysts were identified in the sclerae, the protective outer layer of the eye.

Diagnosis and Study

  • Upon histological examination of the skin, the researchers confirmed the presence of many cysts, leading to a diagnosis of Besnoitiosis, a parasitic infection commonly found in horses.
  • However, to further understand the nature of the parasite and to validate the diagnosis, the researchers attempted to transmit the parasite by injecting subcutaneously homogenised skin from the infected horse into rabbits and another horse. These attempts failed.

Identification of the Parasite

  • The researchers analyzed the ultrastructural morphology (detailed structure) of the parasites and identified them as ‘bradyzoites’, a slow-growing vegetative form of certain parasites.
  • The structure of the bradyzoites was incompatable with the usual causatives of Besnoitiosis; Besnoitia besnoiti or B. jellisoni, two species of parasites.
  • Based on the ultrastructural morphology and inability to transmit the infection through other organisms, the researchers proposed that the parasitic infection was caused by B. bennetti. B. bennetti, another species of the genus Besnoitia, is not commonly associated with Besnoitiosis, making this finding a significant one for horse pathogenicity studies.

Conclusion

  • This research paper documents a rare case of Besnoitiosis in a pony, but more importantly identifies a possible new causative agent, B. bennetti. Further work will be required to verify and study the prevalence and pathogenicity of this parasite in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
van Heerden J, Els HJ, Raubenheimer EJ, Williams JH. (1993). Besnoitiosis in a horse. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 64(2), 92-95.

Publication

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
ISSN: 1019-9128
NlmUniqueID: 7503122
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 2
Pages: 92-95

Researcher Affiliations

van Heerden, J
  • Department of Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa.
Els, H J
    Raubenheimer, E J
      Williams, J H

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Coccidiosis / pathology
        • Coccidiosis / veterinary
        • Eimeriida / isolation & purification
        • Horse Diseases / parasitology
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Microscopy, Electron
        • Skin Diseases, Parasitic / pathology
        • Skin Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary

        Citations

        This article has been cited 12 times.
        1. Berman N, Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Minderigiu A, Blinder E, Leszkowicz Mazuz M. First Detection of Anti-Besnoitia spp. Antibodies in Equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Microorganisms 2023 Apr 3;11(4).
          doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11040929pubmed: 37110352google scholar: lookup
        2. Malatji MP, Tembe D, Mukaratirwa S. An update on epidemiology and clinical aspects of besnoitiosis in livestock and wildlife in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2023 May;21:e00284.
          doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00284pubmed: 36793766google scholar: lookup
        3. Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Diezma-Diaz C, Perlotti C, Zanzani SA, Ferrucci F, Álvarez-García G, Manfredi MT. Besnoitiosis in donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease of equids in Italy. Parasitol Res 2021 May;120(5):1811-1819.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-021-07089-9pubmed: 33723661google scholar: lookup
        4. Liénard E, Nabuco A, Vandenabeele S, Losson B, Tosi I, Bouhsira É, Prévot F, Sharif S, Franc M, Vanvinckenroye C, Caron Y. First evidence of Besnoitia bennetti infection (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Belgium. Parasit Vectors 2018 Jul 18;11(1):427.
          doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2993-3pubmed: 30021659google scholar: lookup
        5. Gutiérrez-Expósito D, García-Bocanegra I, Howe DK, Arenas-Montes A, Yeargan MR, Ness SL, Ortega-Mora LM, Álvarez-García G. A serosurvey of selected cystogenic coccidia in Spanish equids: first detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in Europe. BMC Vet Res 2017 May 10;13(1):128.
          doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1046-zpubmed: 28490374google scholar: lookup
        6. Oryan A, Sadoughifar R, Namavari M. Optimization of murine model for Besnoitia caprae. J Parasit Dis 2016 Sep;40(3):699-706.
          doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0563-ypubmed: 27605770google scholar: lookup
        7. Sadoughifar R, Namavari M, Oryan A. Suspension culture of Besnoitia caprae by murine macrophage. J Parasit Dis 2015 Dec;39(4):624-7.
          doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0442-6pubmed: 26688623google scholar: lookup
        8. Hosseini A, Namazi F, Oryan A, Nazifi S. Correlation between some hematological parameters, acute phase proteins and serum immunoglobulins in experimental caprine besnoitiosis. J Parasit Dis 2015 Jun;39(2):155-61.
          doi: 10.1007/s12639-013-0304-7pubmed: 26063991google scholar: lookup
        9. Namazi F, Oryan A, Sharifiyazdi H. Genetic characterization of the causative agent of besnoitiosis in goats in Iran on the basis of internal transcribed spacer rDNA and its comparison with Besnoitia species of other hosts. Parasitol Res 2011 Mar;108(3):633-8.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-010-2107-4pubmed: 20941630google scholar: lookup
        10. Oryan A, Azizi S. Ultrastructure and pathology of Besnoitia caprae in the naturally infected goats of Kerman, East of Iran. Parasitol Res 2008 May;102(6):1171-6.
          doi: 10.1007/s00436-008-0890-ypubmed: 18246464google scholar: lookup
        11. Oryan A, Sadeghi MJ. An epizootic of besnoitiosis in goats in Fars province of Iran. Vet Res Commun 1997 Nov;21(8):559-70.
          doi: 10.1023/a:1005918931296pubmed: 9444079google scholar: lookup
        12. Tinkler SH, Villa L, Manfredi MT, Walshe N, Jahns H. First report of Besnoitia bennetti in Irish donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease in Europe. Ir Vet J 2024 Feb 14;77(1):2.
          doi: 10.1186/s13620-024-00263-2pubmed: 38355717google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.